Newcastle beat Man Utd and Tottenham to wonderkid dubbed ‘next Stones’ | Football | Sport

Newcastle have successfully negotiated the signing of Barnsley’s young prodigy, Josh Kenchington, after several rounds of talks. The 15-year-old was initially targeted with a £275,000 offer from the Magpies, but a final agreement of £350,000 has been reached.

The Oakwell youth player, who stands over 6ft tall and has drawn comparisons to England’s John Stones, is set to join the Newcastle academy later this year, barring any last-minute complications. Chronicle Live claim that Newcastle had to fend off competition from Brighton, Tottenham, and Manchester United to secure the youngster’s services.

Newcastle are known for their diligent scouting of the EFL for promising young talent, with youth scout Paul Baker having previously brought in Trevan Sanusi in 2023 and Sam Alabi being signed from Oldham Athletic.

Alabi has been seen training with the first team at Benton during the international break. Speaking about the opportunities for young players, Howe told Chronicle Live earlier this season: “You are looking for somebody to grab their opportunity and force their way into the squad.

“Every player that steps on to the pitch has that opportunity.”

Academy boss Steve Harper also emphasised the importance of recruiting younger players from EFL clubs. Harper stated: “Being in a position to compete nationally to sign such young players shows how much the club value young talent and we really appreciate the backing of the board.

“Through the hard work of everyone involved and the support of the ownership, we are now in a position to provide a high level of staffing, programme, and a pathway to allow young players to develop. The opportunity is there, now it’s up to the boys.”